A trainer with one promising filly and another slow horse ended a 25-year wait for a first city victory at Caulfield on Saturday.
And to make Geoff Wheeler’s breakthrough city success even more special, the winning filly She Can Skate was ridden by the trainer’s son Reece.
She Can Skate - Photo by Steven Dowden
“I’m pretty speechless,” Wheeler said after She Can Skate powered away to win the PFD Food Services Handicap (1100m) by four lengths.
“It’s exciting and especially with Reece riding my first city winner for me. It’s unbelievable.”
Wheeler has been a small-time trainer at Caulfield for around 25 years with his horses housed, until recently, in stables behind the family home in a street near the racecourse.
Promising filly She Can Skate is one of two horses the trainer has in work.
“I’ve just got her and a slow one,” he said.
She Can Skate took on some well-performed horses and proved she was up to the challenge in her return from a spell, holding the lead on the fence before sprinting clear.
She Can Skate ($12) defeated Spending ($11) with three-quarters of a length back to So Wotif ($6.50) third.
Wheeler said the filly was pretty tuned-up and was keen to see how she would go against the likes of favourite Elite Elle who finished unplaced.
“I was hoping she (Elite Elle) would set the benchmark for me to see where we are. I think she’s pretty handy and I think next spring she’ll be better,” he said.
Reece Wheeler said it was surprising it had taken his father so long to post a city win.
“He’s had a couple of nice horses in the past but they’ve just never really lived up to their potential,” the jockey said.
Apprentice Jake Duffy, meanwhile, celebrated a milestone of a different kind on Saturday when he landed a winner on Mr Make Believe on his 21st birthday.
The Peter Moody-trained sprinter controlled the ALH Group Handicap (1000m) from the front, confirming he was in line for a good winter preparation with his 1-1/2 length win.
“He ran really well but it probably wasn’t even wet enough for him today,” Duffy said.
“The rest of his preparation should be good.”
